On Thursday, May 28, 2026, the Sparta Board of Education (Sussex) and Great Meadows Regional (Warren) Boards of Education became the first school boards in the state to pass NJSBA’s Civility Resolution.
The Civility Resolution is part of the NJSBA’s Civility Starts with Us campaign. In today’s increasingly divisive political climate, maintaining civility in local government has become more challenging—from contentious school board meetings to personal attacks on social media. Recognizing the impact on effective governance, the New Jersey School Boards Association has made promoting civility in school board leadership a top priority.
In Sparta, the board of education became aware of NJSBA’s “Civility Starts with Us” initiative before it was officially launched so with great anticipation was prepared to pass the resolution and show their commitment to respectful and productive public discourse. Before passage, every board member read a section of the resolution out loud and into the record and recited the Civility Pledge in unison.
“The Sparta Board of Education has made a deliberate commitment to governing with transparency, integrity, and respect. We’ve witnessed firsthand what happens when civility breaks down: governance fails, administration and staff become sidetracked, and the students we were elected to serve get lost in the noise.” said Board President Kaitlin Gagnon. “While healthy disagreement is necessary, incivility erodes public trust and makes boards less effective. Most stakeholders across the country echo this sentiment, longing for a return to the norms that make democracy work at every level. This is why we are humbled to be the first district in New Jersey to take the pledge and adopt this resolution. This milestone reflects not only Sparta’s values, but our responsibility to model the standard we hope others will follow.” Gagnon said.
On the same day as Sparta, the Great Meadows Regional Board of Education also passed the civility resolution. Board President Courtney Wenthen explained the board’s rationale.
“The Great Meadows Regional School District Board of Education adopted a resolution pledging civility because we believe that respectful and constructive dialogue is essential to effective governance and a strong school community.” said Wenthen. “As elected representatives, we are committed to conducting our meetings with civility, honesty, openness, and mutual respect, even when opinions differ,” she said. “We recognize that public service carries a responsibility to model the values we hope to instill in our students: listening thoughtfully, communicating respectfully, and engaging in productive discourse.”
NJSBA thanks the two boards for their commitment to respectful and open public discourse.
